Celebrating Women’s Month: Inside The Vogue Dinner With Catriona Gray, Rissa Mananquil Trillo, Kim Jones, And More 

“At Vogue Philippines, every month is women’s month. Every day is women’s day.” Vogue Philippines hosts a dinner with guests Catriona Gray, Rissa Mananquil Trillo, Kim Jones, Bianca Gonzalez Intal, and more to fete the release of its March issue. 

Last Friday, a warm mood enveloped Samba at Shangri-La The Fort as Vogue Philippines held a special dinner in celebration of the launch of its March 2024 issue, which is in celebration of Women’s Month. The space was filled with free-flowing conversation between the renowned guests, including H.E. Mary Kay Carlson, Madame Indri P. Aykol, Madame Lee Eun Hwa, UN Women’s Len Mesina, Yvette Fernandez, and Garlic Garcia, as well as October cover star Catriona Gray, Kim Jones, Teresa Herrera Anthony, Shaira Luna, and Colin Dancel. Among them were some of the talent featured in this month’s pages, namely analog astronaut Kristine Jane Atienza, UN Women Champions Rissa Mananquil Trillo and Bianca Gonzalez Intal, and designer Jerome Lorico. 

All guests donned their best denim on denim ensembles. Indigo hues took form in pristinely tailored butterfly sleeves (Rissa paired a Terno with elegantly draped latex pants, both by March issue featured designer Mich Dulce), cropped jackets (Shaira’s was fashioned from pants, while fashion director Pam Quiñones’s upcycled piece from Levi’s x Sami Miro was bordering on bolero), coats (beauty editor Joyce Oreña wore the coat version of Pam’s jacket from the Sami Miro collection), vests, bootcut jeans, and pairs of cult classic Levi’s 501s.

A long, narrow table filled the space from end to end, lined with delicate white blooms. As the guests settled in their seats, Vogue Philippines chief operating officer gave her opening remarks. “Taking a cue from what United Nations called [upon] this year, ‘Invest in women, accelerate progress,’” she said. “So why invest in women? The answer is simple yet profound: investing in women means investing in an exponential effect that promotes health, education, reduces inequality, and boosts economic growth. It is about creating a ripple effect that benefits everyone in society.” 

Vogue Philippines culture editor Audrey Carpio introduces the stories in this month’s issue, whom the team has seen firsthand create this ripple effect. But first, she cleared the air: “At Vogue Philippines, every month is women’s month. Every day is women’s day,” she smiled. 

“Since September 2022, we have strived to tell the stories of the many fascinating women found in the Philippines and beyond,” Audrey continued. “The women in this issue are remarkable, not only for their own lofty accomplishments but for how they use their platforms to uplift, empower, support, and mentor other women.” 

As guests enjoyed a five-course dinner, they each received a copy of the March issue. “It’s so beautiful, you want to keep flipping it!” Garlic playfully joked with Colin, who photographed Karen Davila and Nanette Medved-Po on this month’s gatefold cover, also featuring Nadine Lustre captured by French-Filipina photographer Alyssa Heuzé. 

When the night came to an end, guests hauled their Vogue Philippines issues and complimentary Levi’s denim jackets in tote bags (also made of denim, of course), reeling over stories that raise hope, as told by women who, as editor-in-chief Bea Valdes writes in her editor’s letter, “can fill the room with their fingertips.”